WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Dr. Michael Orf has been named the permanent dean of academic affairs at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).
At their regular meeting Friday, Feb. 18, members of the Missouri State University Board of Governors approved a recommendation from MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster and MSU System President Clif Smart to remove “interim” from Orf’s title.
Orf had been serving as interim dean since July 1, 2020, following the resignation of former MSU-WP Chancellor Shirley Lawler and the promotion of Lancaster to interim chancellor. Lancaster had been dean of academic affairs prior to July 1, 2020. Lancaster was named permanent chancellor in December 2021 following a national search.
“Having Dr. Orf as the interim dean for the past year and a half was a true blessing for me and for the campus,” Lancaster said. “His knowledge, experience, communication skills, as well as his knack for thinking out of the box concerning academic programs served us well. So, when President Smart and I considered how to fill the dean’s position after I was appointed chancellor, we didn’t have to look very far nor discuss very long.”
“I am excited to begin this new role at Missouri State University-West Plains,” Orf said. “I hope to continue the great work of Dr. Lancaster in academic affairs and work with faculty and staff to provide students with a great learning experience.
Orf has 21 years of experience in higher education, with seven of those being at MSU-WP. He joined MSU-WP in July 2015 as assistant dean of academic affairs. He was named associate dean of academic affairs prior to being named interim dean.
Prior to his tenure at MSU-WP, Orf served in several administrative capacities at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, including as Title III activity director, director of faculty recruitment and development for degree completion and director of the office of distance learning.
From February 2006 through September 2012, Orf served as division chair of arts and humanities at Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas. He joined Ozarka in August 2002 as an instructor of social science. Prior to his time at Ozarka, Orf was an instructor of history at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
Orf received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Arkansas State University in 1997 and his master’s in history from Arkansas State in 1999. He earned a specialist degree in community college teaching from Arkansas State in 2001 and another specialist degree in psychology and counseling from Arkansas State in 2006. In 2013, he earned his doctorate of education in higher education from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
“As we move forward, I will work with faculty to make our existing academic programs stronger and identify possible new academic programs to bring to our current and future students,” Orf said. “I look forward to continuing to work with faculty and staff to make Missouri State University-West Plains the first choice for higher education in southern Missouri.”
Interim assistant dean named
In addition to approving Dr. Orf’s appointment as dean of academic affairs, board members also approved a recommendation to appoint long-time faculty member Leigh Adams as interim assistant dean of academic affairs.
Adams has been a part of the English faculty at MSU-WP since August of 1996. During her tenure with the university, she also has filled administrative roles in the academic area, including associate dean of academic affairs from 2002 to 2005 and as assistant dean of the college from 2005 to 2007.
Adams received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1985 and her Master of Arts in English from Arkansas State University in 1991.
